4 ms·

Why aren't there virtual towers with zoomable and computer controlled camera arrays?

by hnburnsy 4y ago

SkyPuncher 4y ago
What benefit would that offer? These towers still need to be manned.
- tjohns 4y ago
  At least in theory... lower tower construction costs, lower ATC labor costs (especially in high cost-of-living areas), and economies of scale from colocating multiple towers into a single facility (i.g. ability to quickly reallocate controllers between tower sites based on observed traffic, or even having controllers operate two towers simultaneously if traffic is light). This last one is already done for approach control. Some areas have a consolidated TRACON facility, like NorCal Approach. At night they'll merge all the radio sectors together, and you end up talking to the same controller for half the state.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
freerobby 4y ago
Lots of ancient tech in control towers. The FAA is soliciting proposals, though. https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/non_federal/remote_tower_systems https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/non_federal/r...
- tssva 4y ago
  The local airport near me has had an experimental remote tower system since 2018. Prior to this there was no tower which limited the types of aircraft which could use the airport and the services which could operate out of it. They were informed in February that SAAB, the provider of the remote tower service, and the FAA were unable to reach an agreement regarding final certification of the system. SAAB has withdrawn their application for final certification. The remote tower system must be shut down June 30th. I believe the air traffic controllers are located in the Kansas City area and the facility there will remain open because the system is certified and in use some places outside the US. The FAA is going to provide a mobile tower through September after which the town, which owns the airport, must enter a lease for the tower including manning it with controllers at a cost of $720k per year. The town is currently investigating how to fund the mobile tower and a permanent replacement tower. They are seeking grants and/or considering instituting landing fees. The permanent tower must be completed and certified within 5 years.
toomuchtodo 4y ago
https://www.codot.gov/programs/remotetower https://www.codot.gov/programs/remotetower https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/pilots-urge-faa-not-to-end-virginia-airports-remote-tower-technology/3301456/ https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/pilots-urge-faa-not... https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/airports-fbos-suppliers/faa-plans-stop-operating-model-remote-tower https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/airports-fbos-sup... https://www.saab.com/products/digital-tower https://www.saab.com/products/digital-tower https://searidgetech.com/ https://searidgetech.com/
- hnburnsy 4y ago
  thx!
geoffeg 4y ago
Because the FAA moves at a glacial pace. It does seem to be getting better over the last few years though.
- barbazoo 4y ago
  The opposite of "moving fast and breaking things".
  - IceyEC 4y ago
    definitely better than "moving fast and crashing planes"!
paranoidrobot 4y ago
London City Airport has such a digital tower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJq5Gs0mnA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJq5Gs0mnA
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
lonelygirl15a 4y ago
There is exactly this in Leesburg, VA. https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/airport/about-leesburg-executive-airport/remote-air-traffic-control-tower https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/airport/about-leesbur... It's getting closed, though, and replaced with a physical tower. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/march/22/remote-tower-at-leesburg-executive-set-to-close https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/march/22/r...

Why aren't there virtual towers with zoomable and computer controlled camera arrays?

SkyPuncher 4y ago

What benefit would that offer? These towers still need to be manned.

tjohns 4y ago
At least in theory... lower tower construction costs, lower ATC labor costs (especially in high cost-of-living areas), and economies of scale from colocating multiple towers into a single facility (i.g. ability to quickly reallocate controllers between tower sites based on observed traffic, or even having controllers operate two towers simultaneously if traffic is light). This last one is already done for approach control. Some areas have a consolidated TRACON facility, like NorCal Approach. At night they'll merge all the radio sectors together, and you end up talking to the same controller for half the state.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

freerobby 4y ago

Lots of ancient tech in control towers. The FAA is soliciting proposals, though. https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/non_federal/remote_tower_systems https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/non_federal/r...

tssva 4y ago
The local airport near me has had an experimental remote tower system since 2018. Prior to this there was no tower which limited the types of aircraft which could use the airport and the services which could operate out of it. They were informed in February that SAAB, the provider of the remote tower service, and the FAA were unable to reach an agreement regarding final certification of the system. SAAB has withdrawn their application for final certification. The remote tower system must be shut down June 30th. I believe the air traffic controllers are located in the Kansas City area and the facility there will remain open because the system is certified and in use some places outside the US. The FAA is going to provide a mobile tower through September after which the town, which owns the airport, must enter a lease for the tower including manning it with controllers at a cost of $720k per year. The town is currently investigating how to fund the mobile tower and a permanent replacement tower. They are seeking grants and/or considering instituting landing fees. The permanent tower must be completed and certified within 5 years.

toomuchtodo 4y ago

https://www.codot.gov/programs/remotetower https://www.codot.gov/programs/remotetower https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/pilots-urge-faa-not-to-end-virginia-airports-remote-tower-technology/3301456/ https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/pilots-urge-faa-not... https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/airports-fbos-suppliers/faa-plans-stop-operating-model-remote-tower https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/airports-fbos-sup... https://www.saab.com/products/digital-tower https://www.saab.com/products/digital-tower https://searidgetech.com/ https://searidgetech.com/

hnburnsy 4y ago
thx!

geoffeg 4y ago

Because the FAA moves at a glacial pace. It does seem to be getting better over the last few years though.

barbazoo 4y ago
The opposite of "moving fast and breaking things".
- IceyEC 4y ago
  definitely better than "moving fast and crashing planes"!

paranoidrobot 4y ago

London City Airport has such a digital tower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJq5Gs0mnA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWJq5Gs0mnA

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

lonelygirl15a 4y ago

There is exactly this in Leesburg, VA. https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/airport/about-leesburg-executive-airport/remote-air-traffic-control-tower https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/airport/about-leesbur... It's getting closed, though, and replaced with a physical tower. https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/march/22/remote-tower-at-leesburg-executive-set-to-close https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/march/22/r...